Device for practice of golf putting



Jan. 1, 1924 E. s. PHELPS DEVICE FOR PRACTICE OF GOLF PUTTING FiledMarch 24, 1923 Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES EDWIN SANFORD PHELPS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR PRACTICE OF GOLF PUTTING.

Application filed March 24, 1923. Serial No. 627,390.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN S. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for 'Practice of Golf Putting; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for practice of golf-putting, and may also be used in the playing of a game or games.

An object of the invention is to provide a suitable board or device for practice or golf-putting, either in-doors or out-doors, whereby skill may be attained for actual putting on a golf green.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game board or device for practicing putting and whereby a score may be kept by assigning predetermined values to the several possible places that the ball may rest in when the same is putted.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my application- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved board or device;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same; and

Figure 4.- is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the several views and the accompanying specification to designate corresponding parts.

The top or plane 1 of the game board is fiat and substantially rectangular in shape and is provided at either side with the depending aprons or strips 2, which serve to reinforce the board, and is further provided on its under surface with the vertically adjustable legs 3, which may be removed entirely from the board when desired. These legs 3 hold the board 1 in an inclined position with its forward end resting on the level floor, and its rear end elevated in the air.

An opening or cup 4 is formed through the board or plane 1 adjacent its upper end and midway between its sides, and commu nicates with a forwardly and laterally extending dished runway 5, which is open at its outer end. The board or plane 1 extends rearwardly' from a point adjacent the opening 4, and is formed into a transversely extending trough 6, which is inclined as at 7 towards the right hand side of the board. This trough 6 is called a sub-cup and is adapted to receive the golf ball if it is put ted slifghtly beyond the cup 4.

t A second transversely extending trough 8 1s formed integral with and to the rear of the trough 6, and is correspondingly inclined as at 9 towards the right side of the board 1, and is termed a pit. The trough or pit 8 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly turned rear wall 10 which extends up a considerable distance above the angle or pitch of the board 1, and is termed a bunker.

An apron or curtain 11 is attached to, or formed integral with the board or plane 1 and extends on the left side of the board at the ends of the sub-cup and pit troughs 6 and 8, and extends from the forward end of thesub-cup6to the top of the bunker 10.

A semi-circular upwardly extending wall or frame 12 is divided at its center and is provided with a locking hinge 13 which serves to hold the parts rigid when the same are in extended or open position. The hinge 13 may also be detaohably secured in any suitable manner to the board or plane 1, a short distance in front of the opening or cup 4. The ends of the Wall 12 extend out beyond the sides of the board 1 to points approximately in alinement with the forward end of the board, thereby leaving spaces between the said sides and the outer ends of the wall. This wall may also be removed from the board and separated in sections to facilitate the carryinlg of the game board from place to place. The space on the board,

in front of the wall 12 will be termed thev rough, while the space about the cup 4, and to the rear of the wall 12 will be termed the green.

It will be apparent that many different types of games may be played in connection with this device, by assigning different values to the several stations.

The mode of operation is as follows: The board is first elevated at its rear as much as desired. The person or persons playing then attempt to put the balls in the cup 4, though they may not get by the rough or wall 12, or they may be putted into the sub-cup or 1t. If the balls land in either the cup, or sub-cup or pit, they will roll down the inclined troughs to the right side of the board where an attendant or player will collect the same. From the foregoing description it Wlll be apparent that I have provided a most enjoyable and inexpensive golf practice or game board which will make those using the same quite proficient in the art of putting when they play on real golf links.

Many minor changes in detalls of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits what I claim is:

1. A. device for practice of golf putting, comprising an inclined plane formed with a ball-receiving opening adjacent to its upper end and a plurality of parallel inclined troughs extending transversely to the upper end of the inclined plane to receive a ball that fails to enter the opening in the plane and may pass to either side therof, the outermost trough having a rear wall extending above the pitch of the inclined plane.

2. A device for practice of golf (putting, comprising an inclined plane forme with a ball-receiving opening adjacent its upper end and having a laterally and forwardly exrea ers tending runway leading from the opening on the underside of the plane, and a plurality of parallel troughs extending transversely to the upper end of the inclined plane to receive a ball that fails to enter the opening in the plane, said troughs being open at one end for the delivery of balls received therein from the inclined plane.

3. A device of the character described comprising an inclined board provided with a centrally disposed opening or cup, a run-' way connected therewith, a plurality of transversely disposed troughs at the rear of the board, an upwardly extending Wall at the rear of said trou' hs, and a wall extending to each side of the board and in the direction of the forward end of the board at a spaced distance from the sides of the board.

4. A device of the character described comprising a flat surfaced board provided with a centrally disposed opening or cup adjacent its rear end, a run-way connected therewith, a plurality of transversel inclined troughs formed at the rear 0 said fiat surfaced board, an upwardly extending wall at the rear of said troughs, and a semicircular wall disposed between said cup and the forward end of said board.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN SANFORD PHELPS.

Witnesses:

'Inaononn C. IILBRIQHT ERNEST C. Mom. 

